da Vinci Surgical System Treats Prostate Cancer

"I've gotta rave about it. It's the easiest surgery I've ever had."

Edward Hospital now has the da Vinci Si Surgical System, the most advanced robotic technology available which can be used for a range of minimally invasive procedures in gynecology, urology, and thoracic/chest and general surgery.

The da Vinci System provides surgeons with greater precision, control and access to hard-to-reach areas, allowing extremely complex operations to be performed through just a few small incisions instead of traditional open surgery. The robotic system provides better vision for surgeons with magnification and 3D capabilities, as well as elimination of tremors. Through da Vinci's robotic wrists, which are capable of rotating 360 degrees, surgeons are able to perform movements that aren't possible with human hands.

PATIENT STORY: ROBOTIC SURGERY

Gynecologists have adopted the robotics for a range of gynecologic surgeries, such as hysterectomy and myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids). Using da Vinci, surgeons make a few 1- to 2-centimeter incisions to perform a hysterectomy rather than the long incision used in traditional open gynecologic surgery. The result is typically a significantly shorter recovery period, substantially less pain and a much quicker return to family activities, work and recreation. da Vinci can also be used to treat uterine fibroids, endometriosis, falling uterus or bladder and other conditions associated with reproductive endocrinology/infertility, gynecologic oncology and urogynecology.

da Vinci prostatectomy - removal of the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer - has become the most-often performed approach to prostate cancer surgery in the U.S. Prostatectomy patients benefit from fewer urinary and sexual complications. Other urologic procedures that can be performed with da Vinci include cystectomy (removal of urinary bladder, cyst or gall bladder), nephrectomy (removal of kidney) and partial nephrectomy.

According to Peter Lewis, 65, of Lisle there's no doubt he made the right decision choosing da Vinci as the way to remove his prostate gland because of prostate cancer. Mark Fisher, MD of DuPage Medical Group, a surgeon who specializes in urology, performed a prostatectomy on Lewis using da Vinci on August 3. Lewis left Edward Hospital on August 4. Watch Peter's story.

"I've gotta rave about it. It's the easiest surgery I've ever had," says Lewis. "I was walking the same day of the surgery. I never dreamed I'd be back on my feet this quick."

Lewis says he had no pain immediately after or in the days following the procedure and that he didn't even fill the prescription for pain medication. He has only a few small holes in his abdomen as reminders of his da Vinci experience, instead of the long scar associated with open surgery to remove the prostate.

"The da Vinci system is another example of our commitment to provide the latest in minimally invasive surgery to our community," says Barb Malec, RN, advance specialty leader, Edward Hospital. "It gives our excellent surgeons another tool to consider when discussing treatment options with their patients." 

View a photo gallery of a demonstration of the da Vinici surgical system on TribLocal.

Find a surgeon
Click here to learn more about the surgeons on staff at Edward who perform da Vinci surgery, call (630) 527-MDMD, Monday - Friday, 7 am - 6 pm, to find a surgeon, or submit an online referral request and we'll call or email you within one business day.